The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Health

Flu can be deadly; use precautions to avoid it

By

Sick people are showing up in doctor’s offices and emergency rooms seeking treatment for the flu.

Both in Florida and across the United States, flu activity is on the rise, according to Mara Gambineri, communications director for the Florida Department of Health.

“We’re seeing more activity across all age groups this year than we’ve seen in previous seasons at this time, which may be an early indication of a more severe influenza season,” Gambineri said, via email.

Kelly Ranieri, a registered nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, receives the flu shot from Pamela Wayne, also a registered nurse there. Hospital team members are required to get the flu shot every year for their own health and for that of their patients. (Courtesy of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North)

Several Pasco County public schools experienced some degree of significant absence related to flu activity in December before break, said Linda Cobbe, the district’s spokeswoman.

The concern was reported to the health department and a generic notice from the health department was sent home to all parents at Bexley Elementary School on Dec. 18 and at Plato Academy on Dec. 6, Cobbe said.

So far, the district hasn’t seen the same trends since returning from the holiday break, however, Cobbe said, the district’s nurse supervisor said this year is predicted to be “quite challenging” from a flu standpoint.

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, at 2600 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, has seen an uptick in flu cases.

“The surge that we’ve noticed has been mostly since Christmas, around Dec. 24, Dec. 25,” said Dr. Nadeem Khan, a community physician and the medical director, Infectious Diseases at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

In the first week of 2017, the hospital had eight confirmed cases of the flu. This year, it had 12 cases during the same week last year. The Wesley Chapel hospital also had 16 confirmed cases from Jan. 5 through Jan. 8, which is more than it had seen the entire previous week, according to figures supplied by the hospital.

“A lot of people did not get vaccinated this year. A lot of the patients you talk to, just didn’t do it,” Khan said.

Holiday crowds also likely figured in, Khan said.

During the holidays, people tend to travel, he observed. “You’re in planes. You’re in airports. There’s delays.

“Somebody is sneezing and coughing, and you can’t do anything about it,” he said.

The sudden cold weather likely contributed, too, he said.

“When your immune system goes down a little bit, you’re more susceptible,” he explained.

The flu cases seem to be coming in earlier than usual this year at Saint Joseph’s Hospital-North, 4211 Van Dyke Road, in Lutz, said Cindy McGrath, nursing manager in the hospital’s emergency department.

Dr. Nadeem Khan is a community physician and the medical director, Infectious Diseases at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel)

Both health care professionals said there are ways to reduce your chances of catching the flu, and it’s important to protect yourself.

Aside from getting a flu shot, washing your hands frequently with soap and warm water is perhaps the most important step you can take to protect yourself, Khan said.

“At restaurants, we’re picking up salt and pepper shakers. No one cleans those, ever. We’re touching menus that no one cleans. You need to make sure that you’re washing your hands, or using hand sanitizer,” he said.

He also recommends wearing a mask in crowded places, such as airports, airplanes and other places where you could be risking exposure from being too close to others in tight quarters.

“If you’re not sure what’s going on around you, it’s always better to get a mask.”

“Even if you look funny, or you think people are going to stare at you, who cares?” Khan asked.

Those who are most vulnerable to the flu include the very young and the elderly, according to the Florida Department of Health’s website. Pregnant women also are at risk.

People who have underlying medical conditions also are more susceptible to catching the flu, McGrath said.

Once flu symptoms begin to show up, it’s a good idea to see a health care provider for antiviral medication, both McGrath and Khan said. The sooner, the better, they said.

State and federal health officials still recommend getting a flu shot, even though it may not always prevent the flu.

“Flu vaccines can vary in effectiveness from season to season, but they continue to be the best way to prevent influenza infection and serious influenza complications,” said Gambineri, of the state health department.

Khan agrees.

“You might get sick even if you’ve had the flu shot, but not sick enough to be in the hospital or the ICU (intensive care unit),” he said.

Catching the flu can have serious consequences, Khan said.

“We definitely lose patients from influenza. That is something that people don’t understand. Young, healthy individuals, 23 to 30 years old. They die,” he said.

Symptoms:

  • High-grade fever, generally 101 degrees Fahrenheit or above
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Dry cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuff nose
  • Body aches, chills
  • Diarrhea, vomiting
  • Breathing difficulties

The infectious period can start 24 hours to 48 hours before symptoms show up.

Prevention tips

  • Get a flu shot
  • Wash your hands often, with soap and warm water, rubbing hands for 15 seconds to 20 seconds, then drying with a clean towel.
  • Stay away from people who are sick, and avoid crowded spaces, if possible
  • Wear a mask to protect yourself in crowded places, such as airplanes and airports

Avoid spreading the flu

  • Stay home when you are sick
  • Cover sneezes or coughs
  • Use a disposable tissue when blowing your nose and discard that tissue immediately
  • Wash your hands often, using soap and warm water. Rub your hands for 15 seconds to 20 seconds. Be sure to use a clean towel when drying your hands.
  • Do not share glasses, forks, spoons, toothbrushes and so on.

Sources: Dr. Nadeem Khan, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel; Cindy McGrath, nurse manager for the emergency department and Kim Demers, assistant nurse manager for the emergency department at Saint Joseph’s Hospital — North; and, FloridaHealth.gov.

Published January 17, 2018

Health News 01/17/2018

By

(Courtesy of Kirsty Churchill)

Little things make a big difference
A group of women from the Silver Sneakers program at the James P. Gills YMCA delivered handmade blankets, shawls and slippers to patients at the Gulfside Center for Hospice Care at Heather Hill, in New Port Richey. The group also left additional blankets for patients to receive as they enter Gulfside. This is the third time the group has donated handmade gifts to hospice patients. From left: Shirley Colligan, Deborah Miller, Glenda Hunter, Arlene Kovacs, Lori Fridy and Jennifer Chianella.

Robotics for neurosurgery
Florida Hospital Tampa is the first hospital in Florida to acquire the latest generation robotic imaging technology for use in neurosurgery that provides neurosurgeons with a more complete view of the brain during surgery.

Synaptive Medical Inc.’s BrightMatter product suite, including its next-generation Modus V robotic arm with digital microscope, transforms imaging, surgical planning, patient data collection and intraoperative vision from disjointed analog methods to a fully integrated platform with navigation, robotic automation, digital microscopy and data analytics.

Modus V is derived from technology used on the International Space Station and sets a new standard for robot-assisted neurosurgery with the most powerful optics available on the market. The optics provide unprecedented views of patient anatomy, and may allow surgeons to perform less invasive procedures with more precision.

Less invasive procedures may lead to faster recovery times, reduced complications and, in some cases, may render an inoperable diagnosis operable.

Hitting the road to promote better hearing

By

The Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation of Florida Inc., has put a van on the road to expand its ability to provide early intervention for children with hearing loss.

The organization, headquartered in New Port Richey, serves the entire state.

It added the van so it could provide pediatric hearing screenings and evaluations, as well as fitting and dispensing of hearing aids, in rural and under-served communities.

Debra Golinski is the executive director of the Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation of Florida Inc. She hopes the organization can create a fleet of seven vans to help it achieve its goal of providing services across the state. (Courtesy of Debra Golinski)

“It’s part of our mission for early identification of hearing loss,” said Debra Golinski, executive director of the Sertoma Foundation. “We’ve always tried to serve the entire state of Florida, and in order to do that more effectively, the mobile van was the answer for us,” she said.

The van makes scheduled stops at day care centers across the state, to allow for screening of children who are infants through age 5, Golinski said.

If a child doesn’t pass the first time, a rescreening is scheduled. If the child still doesn’t pass, the parents are asked to have the child’s primary care physician do a check.

“We discover there’s about 20 percent that need further testing. Sometimes it’s fluid in the ear. Sometimes it’s ear wax. There are different reasons that they don’t pass. That’s why we have to refer back to the primary care,” Golinski said.

“If they indeed need hearing aids, we have an audiologist who will come back to do the fitting and dispensing at a very reduced rate,” she said.

There are clues that a child may have hearing loss, she said.

If your child isn’t paying attention to you, there may be a hearing issue, Golinski said. Or, “if they don’t respond to what you’re talking about, if they don’t respond to noises,” she said.

Sometime, hearing loss isn’t easy to spot, she added.

“Children adapt. We’ve found kids that were completely deaf in one ear, but they adapted. The family never knew.

“It’s just like anything else, you learn to adapt. That’s why we take the initiative to make sure they’re screened,” Golinski said.

The Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation of Florida Inc., has added a van to help it provide early intervention to children with hearing loss. (Courtesy of Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation)

The idea is to help children who need it, as soon as possible.

When children can’t hear, they can be at a disadvantage in developing their vocabulary and speaking skills, she said.

By intervening early, help can be provided to help children avoid learning delays and can minimize or eliminate the need for special education, she said.

“When they hit kindergarten, our goal is that they will mainstream,” Golinksi said, rather than requiring special education services.

Golinski said the response to the mobile van, which was added last fall, has been tremendous.

“I’ve never been upstaged by a van so much in my life,” she said, with a laugh.

“We’ve screened over 2,000 children since we started,” she said, noting the van has traveled to more than a dozen counties, including Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Clay, Levy, Marion, Lake, Seminole and Brevard, among others.

“We are doing great things with one van. We’d love to have more. My vision is that we would have seven vans across the state, doing this,” Golinski said.

She hopes that can be accomplished within a few years.

For more information about this program, or to help provide funding or a van to expand the services, call (727) 312-3881.

Published January 10, 2018

Griswold celebrates 35 years

By

The first Griswold Home Care office opened in 1982, fulfilling founder Jean Griswold’s goal of providing care that would keep seniors, the infirmed, and those recovering from injury in the place they love the most – their homes.

In the 35 years since its opening, Griswold Home Care’s thousands of caregivers have seen to the daily needs and comfort of hundreds of thousands of clients across the country.

Jean Griswold passed away last year, but Arthur and Frieda Moseley, of Griswold Home Care of Pasco County & Tampa in Lutz, say they see her vision in action every day.

For information, visit GriswoldHomeCare.com.

Hospital participates in Rose Bowl

By

(Courtesy of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point)

Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point received an invitation to participate in the 2018 Donate Life Rose Parade Float Hospital CEO Rose Dedications. Only a select group of hospitals in the area have been asked to prepare a handwritten message honoring the patients and families who, with the support of hospital staff, have saved and healed lives through the gift of organ, eye and tissue donation. Joe Rudisill, the hospital’s COO, writes a note to be placed in the Donate Life Rose Parade float.

Pasco reviewing lawsuit proposal linked to opioid epidemic

By

More than 15 years ago, a landmark settlement against tobacco companies netted billions of dollars for plaintiffs who sued over smoking-related illnesses.

The nation’s opioid epidemic may be headed in that same direction.

And, the Pasco County Commission is mulling a proposal to join a growing number of governments that are seeking to recoup public dollars spent battling opioid addictions.

At a Dec. 5 workshop in New Port Richey, Pensacola-based attorney Jeff Gaddy laid out a case for why Pasco should join the legal fray.

County commissioners made no commitment, but accepted a proposal for review.

“We’ll make a decision down the road,” said Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Wells. “We know it’s an epidemic.”

If approved, legal action would be taken on a contingency basis, with Pasco paying no upfront costs and only paying attorneys in the event of a settlement.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, who attended the workshop, favors the lawsuit.

“This is a pill epidemic that didn’t have to happen,” he said.

Every deputy now carries a supply of Narcan, the brand name for naloxone. The medication can be used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

Nocco said 40 people “have been brought back” by deputies and first responders administering Narcan.

Gaddy’s firm is among seven law firms litigating the issue in states including West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.

The group has about 120 clients in more than 10 states, and to date has filed more than 80 lawsuits. Some lawsuits could eventually be consolidated into a single lawsuit.

“We are without a doubt the national leader in this litigation,” Gaddy said.

The lawsuits are filed against drug distributors and manufacturers. They allege false claims about the safety of opioids and a massive pill distribution that created a “public nuisance,” he said. “They should be held accountable for it.”

Distributors are required by law to report suspicious orders to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. But, Gaddy said those rules have been violated.

He cited reports from West Virginia that 780 million pills were distributed over six years in a state with about 1.8 million people.

“It was off the chart by any stretch of the imagination,” Gaddy said.

There are about 800 drug distributors, but Gaddy said three major distributors typically have been named as defendants in lawsuits. They are Cardinal Health, McKesson Corp., and Amerisource-Bergen.

The goal is to force plaintiffs to establish abatement funds that would pay for the drug damages to communities through education programs in schools, costs to law enforcement, and funds to support drug prevention and addiction recovery programs.

Gaddy said, “There is no county in the nation with enough beds to handle the flood of victims of their pills.”

Published December 27, 2017

Health News 12/27/2017

By

(Courtesy of Keth Luke)

Charity show rakes in over $40,000
The inaugural Charity Fashion Show, at Heritage Springs Golf & Country Club in Trinity, benefitting Gulfside Hospice, raised more than $40,000 to support patient care in Pasco County. From left: Linda Ward, president and CEO of Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care; Deiah Riley, morning anchor from ABC Action News and event emcee; and, Carla Armstrong, director of philanthropy for Gulfside.

Hospital appoints Courtney Stephenson
The Medical Center of Trinity has appointed Courtney Stephenson as assistant chief nursing officer. Stephenson was promoted to the position from her chief nursing officer position at Northside Hospital.

Stephenson has been with HCA for almost 11 years, staring her career as a registered nurse at Medical City Fort Worth in 1996.

She also has served as a director of risk management and patient safety, vice president of clinical services and interim chief nursing officer during her time in HCA.

In 2014, she entered the Executive Development Program and was promoted to associate chief nursing officer at Medical Center of McKinney.

Stephenson has a Master of Science in nursing administration from the University of Texas, Arlington, and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Texas Christian University.

Casino Night benefits hearing impaired
Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation had its annual Las Vegas Casino Night at Seven Springs Golf and Country Club in New Port Richey, to benefit the Children’s Hearing Help Fund.

Visitors took part in gaming, auctions, dinner, and music and dancing throughout the event.

All proceeds, more than $6,000, will benefit the hearing fund.

To contribute to the fund, drivers who are renewing a license or motor vehicle registration also can check the box to “CHHF” and add a dollar or more to their fee, which will be donated to Sertoma through the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Honor a loved one with a paper dove
Gulfside Hospice thrift shops are offering two paper doves, with a place to write the name of a loved one, for $1 donation for anyone who would like to honor a loved one’s memory during the holiday season.

One ornament can be placed on a decorated tree at the shops, and the second dove is for the donor’s tree at home.

Doves can be purchased at any Gulfside Hospice thrift shop location, as well as the three Gulfside offices.

For store locations, visit GHPPC.org.

For information about the ornaments, call Gulfside’s Philanthropy Department at (727) 845-5707.

Tax collector raises money for breast cancer
Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s five offices partnered with the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation to help raise funds and awareness of breast cancer, its symptoms and treatments.

The five office branches promoted the sale of the “End Breast Cancer” specialty license plates, as well as voluntary check-off donations on automobile registrations.

Forty-two plates were sold, and combined with the cash donations a total of $7,882.68 was raised to help fight the disease.

Adventist Health System to buy Bayfront Health in Dade City

By

Adventist Health System, which is the parent company of Florida Hospital, signed an agreement to buy the 120-bed Bayfront Health Dade City Hospital, according to a news release from Adventist Health System.

The deal is expected to close in early 2018.

Details on the sales price weren’t disclosed.

The sale will include the hospital, at 13100 Fort King Road, as well as physician clinic operations and outpatient services.

“Finding a partner to allow a seamless medical care experience for our patients is important,” said Linda Stockton, in the news release. “Florida Hospital can bring their experience to build on our history of service and success.”

Bayfront is owned by Community Health Systems.

The sale is the “best plan for the future of Bayfront Health Dade City, according to the news release.

“Bayfront Health is a valuable asset to Dade City and its residents, and we want to continue the long history of providing essential care in that facility,” Mike Schultz, chief executive officer of the Adventist Health System West Florida Division, said in the release.

In recent years, Community Health Systems has struggled financially, and has been selling its hospitals.

A new release from Community Health System issued in November previewed “additional planned divestures,” based on $110 million loss in the third quarter of 2017. That was an increase over losses last year.

According to a news release, Bayfront Health in Dade City was one of those divestures.

About $40 million in losses for 2017 resulted from complete or partial shutdowns of some hospitals in Texas and Florida during Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, according to the company press release.

Published December 20, 2017

Health News 12/20/2017

By

(Courtesy of Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation)

Hearing on the go
Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation of Florida Inc., had a ribbon-cutting and a presentation of its new mobile audiology services van at the Amazing Kids Academy in Lake County. The van will provide pediatric hearing screenings and evaluations, along with fitting and dispensing hearing aids. The foundation’s focus is rural and underserved communities. For information, visit FamilyHearingHelp.org.

 

Hospital appoints nurse manager
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has appointed Jessica Saunier, registered nurse Trauma Nurse Core Course, as nurse manager of its Med/Oncology 3 North unit.

Saunier was promoted from the Critical Care Unit where she worked for years.

She is completing her Bachelor of Nursing degree from Grand Canyon University.

Saunier began at the hospital in the Critical Care Unit after completing nursing school at Pasco-Hernando State College and was nominated to begin an internship in critical care.

She also has acted as a relief charge nurse.

New breathing clinic opens
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has opened a Better Breathing Clinic to assist patients with managing disease processes that affect the patient’s ability to lead active and full lives, due to medical conditions that affect breathing.

A number of diseases impair the ability to breathe sufficiently, including COPD, congestive heart failure and heart valve disease.

The clinic opened Dec. 8, and is staffed by a practicing pulmonologist and cardiologist.

For information, call (727) 819-2945.

BayCare adds new doctor
BayCare Medical Group, 4211 Van Dyke Road, Suite 101B, in Lutz, has added Dr. Swasha D. Fields, who specializes in family medicine.

Fields is board-certified in family medicine, specializing in primary and preventive care. She earned a Doctor of Medicine from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, and completed a family medicine residency at the University of South Florida-Morton Plant Mease in Clearwater.

For information, visit BayCareMedicalGroup.com.

Crisis Center leaders honored
The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay serves as the community gateway to services related to crisis and trauma.

Katie Androff, vice president of talent management, won the Government/Nonprofit category for the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s People First Awards.

Androff has been in the human resources field for the past 15 years, with the most recent three years in her current position.

Barbara Curts, board member of the center and senior vice president commercial banker for Seacoast Bank, was recognized with the Gayle Sierens Volunteer of the Year Award for National Philanthropy Day.

Curts spends her days in the bank office downtown, and volunteers for four 15-hour night and weekend shifts a month as a victim advocate for the crisis center.

Hospital graduates ambassador class
Oak Hill Hospital’s ambassador program is designed to promote global understanding of hospital operations and enhances teamwork in cooperation across all internal departments. The program is modeled after the Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Hernando program.

Recent graduates include: Kristy Dubious, diagnostic imaging manager; Juan Rios, environmental services manager; Lanna Bartz, ambassador program liaison; Heather Murphy, practice manager; Barbie Gregory, cardiac cath lab registered nurse; Kaysee Brinkley, physical therapist; Peter Marmerstein, HCA West Florida Division president; and James Hudson, physical therapist.

For information, visit OakHillHospital.com/About/Newsroom.

Young women get hands-on science experience

By

The Perry Initiative held a one-day program at Medical Center of Trinity to give young women a hands-on experience in science, and to broaden their exposure to opportunities in the fields of orthopedic surgery and engineering.

Erin Sinnott said participating in The Perry Initiative at Medical Center of Trinity was ‘an amazing experience,’ far exceeding her expectations. (Courtesy of Medical Center of Trinity)

The event, which was last month and was co-sponsored by the Medical Center of Trinity, involved 40 young women selected to attend from 16 local high schools.

The students had a chance to learn from prominent women surgeons, engineers and business women in the field of orthopedics.

Women currently make up 7 percent of the surgeon and engineer workforce in the field of orthopedics, according to a news release from The Perry Initiative. The event was intended to help give participants exposure to potential careers options.

The students had the chance to perform surgical simulations to correct scoliosis deformity, to fix a broken leg and to repair a rotator cuff, according to the news release.

The day included lectures on engineering and orthopedics, the simulations and a question-and-answer session.

Land O’ Lakes, Sunlake and Steinbrenner were among the participating high schools.

Dr. Jennifer Cook, orthopedic surgery, was instrumental in bringing the program to the medical center.

Kylie Siminiski, a student at Steinbrenner High School, works with Dr. Jennifer Cook during a one-day program at Medical Center of Trinity aimed at giving young women exposure to the fields of engineering and orthopedic surgery.

Alyssa Kovacs, a junior at Land O’ Lakes High School, was impressed by the one-day program.

“I thought the experience was great. It definitely changed my mind about what I want to do.

“I knew I wanted to be a doctor working in a hospital … but, I didn’t think I wanted to go into ortho surgery. I never really thought about ortho surgery until The Perry Initiative.

“I really don’t know to explain it: It clicked something inside,” the high school junior said, in an interview after completing the program.

“It was a great experience, and it definitely changes how you see things,” Kovacs added.

Erin Sinnott, a senior at Sunlake High School, also gave high marks to the program.

“It was amazing. I wasn’t really expecting so much when I walked in,” Sinnott said.

“At first they showed us what we were doing, then we broke off into small groups, and we got to do it all by ourselves,” she said.

The experience has inspired her to consider the possibility of becoming an orthopedics surgeon, she said.

Published December 13, 2017